Dwayne Johnson stars in Skyscraper, a cross between Towering Inferno and Die Hard, that’s actually not half-bad.
The Production: 3.5/5
After losing his leg in a hostage rescue gone wrong, Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) works as a security consultant, and has been hired to review the security on the world’s tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, The Pearl, and has brought his family with him as a working vacation. As often happens in movies like this, after Will deems the building safe, the tablet he is carrying that allows him access to the security systems is stolen by a gang of thieves working for a crime boss, Kores Botha (Roland Møller), who has been trying to extort money from the building’s owner and chief architect, Zhao Long Ji (Chin Han). Zhao is in possession of a digital key that will incriminate Botha and the crime syndicates he works for, and apparently the only way he thinks he can get access to it is to shut down the security protocols and set the building on fire, and frame Will as an arsonist. Unfortunately, Will’s wife, Sarah (Neve Campbell) and their twin son and daughter are still in the building, trapped above the fire line. Can Will save both the building and his family?
The trailers for Skyscraper made it out to be a knock-off of the classic Die Hard, substituting Dwayne Johnson for Bruce Willis. The film ultimately feels like a cross between Die Hard and The Towering Inferno, and Johnson was definitely a good choice, often rising above the rather mundane and predictable material. We know far in advance that the hostage situation at the beginning of the film will be replayed in a different scenario, and we also know that it will happen in the ridiculous dome of mirrors atop the building. This is predictable, popcorn entertainment that is done rather well, despite the gaping holes in the script (my wife and I were constantly asking each other questions like what the motives of the bad guys were, are these thugs good guys or bad guys, etc.). If you turn your brain off for two hours, chances are you will probably enjoy Skyscraper.
Video: 4.5/5
3D Rating: NA
Universal’s Blu-ray release features a 1080p AVC-encoded transfer that retains the film’s theatrical aspect ratio of 2.40:1. It’s pretty much what one would expect on Blu-ray of a modern blockbuster. Colors are bold and vivid for much of the film, shifting to a more orangish tone once the building is set ablaze. Detail is excellent, from facial features to fabric textures to textures in the wall coverings and flooring. Black levels are the Achilles heel, though, as blacks become a bit more grey as more and more CGI is used to fill in gaps in the set, but you really have to be looking for it.
Audio: 5/5
Universal has graced Skyscraper with a Dolby Atmos track for its Blu-ray release, and wow, what a track. There is a lot going on in this film, and you can definitely hear it all around you. Fire blazing above, helicopters swirling around and above you, it is a true delight. LFE is strong, with roaring fire and explosions to rattle the floor boards. Dialogue, thankfully, remains clear and understandable throughout without getting drowned out by the abundance of active sound effects.
Special Features: 3.5/5
Deleted Scenes (1080p; 12:07): Five scenes with optional commentary with Director Rawson Marshall Thurber – Opening Park Scene with the Sawyer Family, Dead Body in the Bathtub, Zhao and Pierce Discuss the Fire in the Pearl, Wu & Han Discuss Will Sawyer – Cantonese and English, and Try Hard.
Extended Scenes (1080p; 10:17): Five scenes with optional commentary with Director Rawson Marshall Thurber – Farm House Opening, Bag Steal, Xia Blows Up the Off-site Facility, Park Fire with Boiling Water, and Sand Barge Shootout.
Dwayne Johnson: Embodying a Hero (1080p; 4:04): The cast and crew discuss Dwayne Johnson’s character, Weill Sawyer.
Inspiration (1080p; 4:12): A look at real-life amputee Jeff Glasbrenner, a consultant on the film that helped coach Johnson on his portrayal.
Opposing Forces (1080p; 2:35): A look at the training that actresses Neve Campbell and Hannah Quinlivan underwent to prepare for their roles.
Friends No More (1080p; 3:21): A look at the apartment fight sequence.
Kids in Action (1080p; 2:40): A look at the two child actors playing the Sawyer twins.
Pineapple Pitch (1080p; 1:38): Dwayne Jhonson and writer-director Rawson Marshall Thurber tell a somewhat humorous story on how the movie was pitched to Johnson.
Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Rawson Marshall Thurber: Thurber provides a fairly interesting commentary, acknowledging his rather obvious inspirations for the movie, wanting to work with Dwayne Johnson again after Central Intelligence, etc.
DVD Copy: The movie in 480p and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, plus all of the special features mentioned above.
Digital Copy: An insert contains a code to redeem a digital copy on Movies Anywhere.
Overall: 4/5
Skyscraper in an entertaining, leave your brain at the door, guilty pleasure, with a very good presentation on Blu-ray and an interesting set of special features.
https://www.amazon.com/Skyscraper-Blu-ray-Dwayne-Rock-Johnson/dp/B07F53HGZ6/ref=sr_1_5_atc_badge_A2N1U4I2KOS032_twi_blu_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539038254&sr=8-5&keywords=skyscraperTodd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.
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